Leveling mount for camera tripods



Aug 7,, 1951 o. BLUM sfi fi LEVELING MOUNT FOR CAMERA TRFEPODS FiledOct. 12, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 1,

IN VEN TOR.

- OTTO BLUM Aug 7 B953 0. BLUM LEVELING MOUNT FOR CAMERA TRIPODS 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 12, 1949 INVENTOR. OTTO BLUM AFTJHA EY Aug. 7,1951 o. BLUM LEVELING MOUNT FOR CAMERA TRIPODS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FiledOct. 12, 1949 INVENTOR. OTTo BLUM Patented Aug. 7, 1951 UNITED STATESPATENT. OFFICE I Y 2,563,389 I LEVELING MOUNT FOR CAMERA TRIPODS f onBlum, New York, N. Y.

Application October 12, 1949, Serial No. 121,007 1mm... (onus-ms) Thisinvention relates to newand useful improvements in combined leveling andswivelable mounts for cameras, and, more particularly, to a swivelable,level indicating camera mounting adapted for use with known tripodcamera stands which are themselves swivelable in horizontal and verticaldirections.

One object of the invention is the provision of a cameramounthaving-meansto indicate levelness thereof on either horizontal axis andhaving means to swivela camera mounted thereon, in any horizontaldirection without disturbing the set levelstate of the mount.

Another object of the invention is to provide said mount not only withthe ordinary camera clamping means but also with auxiliary clampingmeans adjustable in a plurality of ways to effect clamping of variouslysized cameras.

A further object of the invention is to con-' struct said mount so as topermit of its being secured on the heads of known tripod camera standsby the same means formerly utilized to clamp cameras thereon.

A still further object of the invention is to construct and arrange theseveral elements of said mount so as to permit of the facile andeconomical manufacture and assembly thereof.

For further comprehension of the invention; and of the objects andadvantages thereof. reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in whichthevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly setforth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

' Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the swivel head of a known tripodcamera stand with portions of the legs of said tripod also being shown.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the head shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the camera mountof the invention. 7

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of said mount on line 4-4 of Fig, 3and looking in the direction of the arrows applied to said line.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of said mount with certain parts broken away toshow the internal construction.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view of the base portion of said mounton line 5-6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. '7 is a side view of the said mount secured in place on the tripodhead of Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 8 is a side view of a portion'oi the mount and illustrates theadjustability of the camera clamping means.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary. perspective view illustrating a modified mannerof securing said mount on the tripod head.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. '7, but illustrating the camera mountconstructed in accordance with a modification of the present invention.

Fig. 11 is a plan View of the camera mount,

per se. I I I Fig. 12 is a bottom plan view of Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is anenlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line I 3-I3 of Fig. 11. a

It is deemed desirable before entering into a detailed description ofthe first form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 8, to firstdescribebriefly the tripod to which, in the illustrated instance, the inventionis-applied. I

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the three legs in of the tripod are pivotedat their upper ends in a bearing block II having also a vertical borefor a post l2 which at its upper end is journalled in a horizontalmember I3 projecting from a cylindrical housing 14 wherein it isjournalledi The upper part of housing I4 has secured thereto by screwsI5 a camera supporting plate It which projects outward over'member l3and is provided with a screw I! having a large head I8 between the plateand said member. In use, a camera is placed on plate i6 whereon it issecured by drawing up screw il in the threaded hole provided in the baseof all cameras adapted to be used with a tripod.

The outer face of housing I4 is provided with a semi-cylindricalextrusion 20 into which is threaded the end of a handle 2| by which saidhousing I 4 and plate l6 may be rocked about member I3 to move saidplate to a position where its surface is level. When the level is found,the handle is twisted and through mechanism within housing I4 saidhousing and member 13: are locked together. This mechanism however formsno part of the invention and is therefore not shown or described.

After plate I6 has been levelled along on a horizontal axis as abovedescribed, handle 2| and housing 14 are rotated horizontally and the.leveling process repeated.

The plate I6 and the camera supported thereby are then level along bothhorizontal axes. and all that is needed is to rotate handle ZIhorizontally to point the camera in the desired direction. Hereinhowever lies the. chief fault with such tripods, for in turning saidhandle to point the camera, the horizontalsetting is disturbed." It hasalso been found that what to the eyeseems to be a horizontalsetting veryoften isnot, with greases V therefore without disturbing the level stateof plate I6.

' The mount of the invention comprises a base plate 22 (Figs. 3 and'e)surmounted by a guide plate'23 having a circular cutout 25 (see alsoFig. 6) to receive a circular plate '25 of substan' tially the same sizeas said cutout, the circular plate'being maintainedin said cutout byanother plate 26 having a cutout 21 smaller than cut- I 'out 24. 1

Projecting upward from the" circular plate are a pair of "oppositelydisposed pillars 28 having their outer edges curved to complement thecurvature of the periphery of cutout 21. At their upper ends, pillars 28are formed into blocks 3i) securedbetween cross bars 3| upon which is fastened a camerasupporting plate 32. A screw 33 projects upward throughthe center of plate 32, said screw having a large head 34 positionedbetween pillars 28 for manipulation by the fingers and being adapted tosecure'a camera on plate 32 in the same manner as screw If! (Figs. 1 and2) described above. l e A The base plate22 is provided with a threadedhole for cooperating with screw I? (Fig. '7) in securing the mount on;the support plate l6 of the tripod: head. It will beseen, therefore,that the mount is easily and quickly secured on and removed from thetripod head. 7

In another embodiment of the invention, the support plate I6 is removedfrom the tripod head and base plate 22 is provided with a groove 35(Fig. 9) curved to complement the curvature of housing, upon which saidgroove is fitted, the screws l (Fig. 1) former ly used to fasten said 4will indicate to the operator the levelness of the camera on plate 32.

The purpose of the rubber pads 40 (Figs. 3 and 4) is to provide foradjustment of the levels. It sometimes happens that the base of a camerais itself slightly ofi, in which casethe level or levels are adjustedaccordingly by tightening upon the screw 4| at one or the other of theends of the level.

An auxiliary clampirigdeviceis also provided, said device beingadjustable to eifectclamping of cameras of a wide variety of sizes. Tothe rear -face of camera supporting plate 3 2 is adjustably secured byscrews 61, threaded into cross bars 3| and having'knots 48, a clampingblock 56 (Figs. 3-'7).. For cameras of a size equal to or greater thanthe plate 32, the block 5|] and its adjustsupport plate in place thenbeing used to fasten base plate 22 on said housing. In this manner themount of the invention can be fastened permanently in place on thetripodhead.

It will be seen therefor that a camera secured on plate 32 can be turnedin any direction desired without disturbing handle2 the turntablecomprising the plate 32, the pillars 26 and circular plate 25 allturning with the camera, but

' base plate 22 and the tripod head remaining sta-' tionary i I I ,Inorder to secure the turn table in any desired position a scr'evv'36, seeFigs. 5'to 7, havinga knob 31 is threaded through a block as fastened onbase plate 22, said screw also passing through a hole in guide plate 23such manner that when drawn up in said bloc'kit jams circular plate 25in whatever position it may be at the time;

-In order accurately to set camera supporting Each level comprises'ablock 42 (Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6

and 7). having arecess 43' in whichis mounted a.

tube 44 full of liquid except for an air bubble, the recess beingcovered by a thin plate 45 hav ing a sight opening 46 and said tubehaving two hair lines to indicate, when said bubble lies be tween them,that the tube is level. It will be seen that as handle 2| .is manipulated as described abovaxthe right .angledlevels to provide'for camerassmaller than said plate, a second clamping blocl; 5| is hinged to thetop of block 50, said block 5| being adapted to be swung to oneofthepositions shown in Fig. 8 to act on a small camera.

re evice. w a 1 rrq e nected by an external hinge 52andthe block 50 isprovidedon either-side of said hinge with, pads 53 to present a smoothsurface to the baseJoI -a camera, however, in practiicalproduction thehinge would be-internalof theblocls and the pads doneaway'with. i J 1 Tomount a camera-on plate 2,';the screw 33 1s firstdrawn up in'the holeprovided in the camera base and then the clamping block 50 01 5|- istightened against are camerafbyscijeWs 47." I The camera mountinaecordancewith the modification of theinventioh shown in Figs. 10 to 13,comprises a baseplatefifl providedladja cent two of its sides withthreaded-holes 6|, see

Figs. 10 and 12, with which t e screw 11' or" the Y pan head ofthetripod stand can be selectively engaged for fixedly mounting'the baseplate BU onthe supporting plate l6. T V A I Adjacent one corner, thebase plate 68 is formed with ahole 62 andmountdin position over the hole62, concentric therewith, thereare superim posed plates. 63 and MLThplate s 63 and 64 are seouredirl" positiofi'onthe base. plate 66 by.

means of bolts BE'which pasjjsthrough'aligned holes formed inthe"plates,"gsdite'iaiid s4 and which are engage 'witn nutsffifi beneaththe base plate so. The platejts is formed with'ahole 61 just slightlylarger thari -the hole 62 in the base plate 60, The plate, is formedwith a hole as whicli is justsli'gli'tly sfilaller than the 1101s hadonthe tur'iiabl in for Will become Q1521 Sithl 62 in the base platejen'. jsthma. n Fig; "'13, the holes 62, 61 and'Gfl are fo rmedinthe respectiveplates concentric 'with relationtoeach other. Mounted cofi trio lythrough the holes, there is a turnable ineiiiber .fiil'which is formedintermed at -erasends with an enlarged flange 10 of a'siie'jilstslightly smaller. than the hole a 61 in the plate 63. Thustheflange'fl'll 'isloc'ated between the aejacentr es or the plates, toand 64 to rdtanvely retain thelturi iame member '69 in position. a 1 .1

At' its bctto'nig the. turriame member. 69 continues into a reducedn'eck crnen ll of a size considerablysmaller than the hole fiil inthebase plate 60 and which projects, through that, hole.

' g u is" formed e r p mayb f il' s which i I cationpr'oc eeds. Theupper endear-theturnabiemembrte continues into a threaded stud 13 w i isextended freely through: ay-fibre. bearing-d -14 and atop knurled knob12 and turning the same.

platform disc 15. The fibre disc 14 and the platform disc 15 are of likesize and each is of a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of thehole 68 in the plate 64 and are secured to the turnable member 69 byscrews 81. As clearly shown in Figs. and 13, the top end of the threadedstud 13 projects above the top face of the platform disc to be threadedinto the tripod socket in the bottom of the particular camera to bemounted on the camera mount. To thread the stud 13 into the tripodsocket of the camera, the entire turnable member 59 is rotated relativeto the plates 60, B3 and 64, by gripping the This will cause the camerato be drawn fixedly into position on the top face of the platform disc15 so that the camera may be turned on a horizontal level relative tothe tripod and the base plate 60, during which turning, the turnablemember 59 will turn with the camera.

Also mounted on the base plate 60 along two adjacent sides thereof,there is a pair of spirit levels 16. The levels 16, as shown in Figs. 11and 12 are extended at right angles to each other. Extended beneath eachof the spirit levels 16 there is an elongated mounting plate 11.Disposed between adjacent faces of the mounting plates Ti and the baseplate 60, at the ends of the mounting plates, there are blocks ofresilient material 18. The spirit levels 16, the mounting plates 11 andthe blocks of resilient material 18 are secured in position on the topface of the base plate to by means of bolts 19 which are freely passedthrough those parts and which are engaged with nuts 80 at the bottomface of the base plate 60.

The blocks of resilient material 18 are preferably formed of rubber andpermit adjustments of the spirit levels 16 with relation to the baseplate 60 to compensate for any unevenness in the surfaces of the baseplate 60 or the mounting plates 11. i

The manner of using the camera mount of this modification of the presentinvention is exactly .the same as the manner of using the camera mountof the first form of the invention and a further description of themodified form of camera mount is believed to be unnecessary.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of myinvention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to allchanges and modifications coming within the scope of the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. The combination with a tripod camera stand comprising three legsjoined together in a pivot block, a verticalpost mounted in said block,a horizontal member journalled at one end on said post, a housingjournalled on the other end ofsaid member, a handle projecting from saidhousing whereby the housing can be swivelled about said member, and saidmember can be swivelled about said post, a support plate mounted on saidhousing and projecting horizontally above said member, of anindependently swivelablecamera mount comprising a base plate secured onsaid support plate, a guide plate mounted on said base plate and havinga circular cutout, a third plate mounted above said guide plate andhaving a circular cutout concentric with but smaller than the cutout insaid guideplate, a

circular plate turnably mounted in the first said cutout, a pair ofpillars projecting upward from said circular plate, and a camera supportplate mounted on said pillars.

2. The combination of a tripod camera stand including a support plateswivelable about its horizontal and vertical axes, with an independentlyhorizontally swivelable camera mount com prising a base plate fastenedon said supp t plate, a guide plate mounted on said base plate andhaving a circular cutout, a third plate mounted on said guide plate andhaving a circular cut.- out concentric with and smaller than the firstmentioned cutout, and a camera supporting turn table mounted on saidbase plate and guided by said guide plate and said third plate, saidturn table comprising a circular plate swivelably mounted in the firstsaid cutout, a pair of pillars projecting upward from said circularplate and a camera supporting plate mounted on said pillars.

3. The combination of a tripod camera stand including a support plateswivelable about its horizontal and vertical axes, with an independentlyhorizontally swivelable camera mount comprising a base plate fastened onsaid support plate, a guide plate mounted on said base plate and havinga circular cutout, a third plate mounted on said guide plate and havinga circular cutout concentric with and smaller than the first mentionedcutout, and a camera supporting turn table mounted on said base plateand guided by said guide plate and said third plate, said turn tablecomprising a circular plate swivelably mounted in the first said cutout,a pair of pillars projecting upward from said circular plate and acamera supportin plate mounted on saidpillars, and a screw projectingupward through the center of the last said plate to secure a camerathereon, said screw having a large head for. manipulation by thefingers.

4. The combination of a tripod camera stand includin a cylindricalhousing swivelable about its horizontal and vertical axes, with anindependently horizontally swivelable camera mount comprising a baseplate fastened on said cylindrical housing, a guide plate mounted onsaid base plate and having a circular cutout, a third plate mounted onsaid guide plate, and having a circular cutout concentric with andsmaller than the first mentioned cutout, and a camera supporting turntable mounted on said base plate and guided by said guide plate and saidthird plate, said turn table comprising a circular plate swivelablymounted in the first said cutout, a pair of pillars projecting upwardfrom said circular plate and a camera supporting plate mounted on saidpillars.

5. The combination of a tripod camera stand including a cylindricalhousing swivelable about its horizontal and vertical axes, with anindependently horizontally swivelable camera mount comprising a baseplate fastened on said cylindrical housing, a guide plate mounted onsaid base plate and having a circular cutout, a third plate mounted onsaid guide plate, and having a circular cutout concentric with andsmaller than the first mentioned cutout, and a camera supporting turntable mounted on said base plate and guided by said guide plate and saidthird plate, said turn table comprising a circular plate swivelablymounted in the first said cutout, a pair of pillars projecting upwardfrom said circular plate and a camera supporting plate mounted on saidpillars. and ascrew projecting :asessse upward through the center tr thelast said plate to secure a camera thereon, said screw having a largehead for manipulation by the fingers.

6. The combination ot-a-tripod camera stand including a support plateswivelable about its horizontal andvertical axes, with an independentlyhorizontally swivelable camera mount comprising a base plate fastened onsaid support plate, a guide plate mounted on said base plate 'and havinga circular cutout, a third plate mounted on said guide plate and havinga Gil! cular cutout Concentric with and smaller than the'first mentionedcutout, and a camera supporting-turn table mounted on said base plateand guided bysaid guide plate and said third :plate, said turn tablecomprising a circular plate swivelably mounted in the first said cutout,a pair of pillars projecting upward from said circular-plate and acamera supporting plate mounted on said pillars, and a screw projectingupward through the center of the last said plate to secure a camerathereon, said screw having a large head for manipulation by the fingers,and an auxiliary camera clamp comprising a pair of cross bars secured tosaid camera supporting plate, a clamping block abutting one edge of saidcamera supportin plate, and

a pair of adjusting screws passed through said blocks and threaded eachinto one of said cross 4bars, said block moving toward or away from as;the screws are tightened or loossaid plate ened.

'7. The combination of a tripod camera stand including a support plateswivelable about its horizontal and vertical axes, with an independentlyhorizontally swivelable camera mount comprising a base plate fastened onsaid support plate, aguide plate mounted on said base plate and having acircular cutout, a third plate 'a large head for manipulation by thefingers,

and an auxiliary camera clamp comprising a pair-of cross bars secured tosaid camera supporting plate, a, clamping block abutting one edgeof saidcamera supporting plate, and a pair otadjusting screws passed throughsaid blocks and threaded each into one of said cross bars, said blockmoving toward or away from said plate as the screws are tightened orloos- ,ened, and a second clamping block hinged to the firstclampingblock for clamping cameras of sizes smaller than the camera supportingplate.

,8. The combination of a tripod camera stand including a cylindricalhousing swivelable about its horizontal and vertical axes, with'anindependently horizontally swivelable camera mount comprising a baseplate fastened on said cylindrical housin a guide piate mounted on saidbase plate and having a circular cutout, a third platemounted' onsaidiguide plate, and having a circular cutout concentric with andsmaller than the first mentionedicutout, and a camera 8 9 thirdplatejsaid turn table comprising a circular plate swivelably mounted inthe first said cutout, a pair of pillars projecting upward'from saidcircular plate and a camera supporting plate mounted on said pillars,and a screw projecting upward through the center of the last said plateto secure a camera thereon, said screw having a large head formanipulation by the fingers, and a pair of level indicators mounted onsaid base plate at right angles to one another.

9. The combination of a tripod camera stand including a cylindricalhousing swivelable about its horizontal and vertical axes, withanindependently horizontally swivelable camera mount comprising a baseplate'fastened on said cylindrical housing, a guide plate mounted onsaid base plate and having a circular cutout, a third plate mounted onsaid guide plate, and havinga circular cutoutconcentric with and smallerthan;

the first mentioned cutout, and a camera supporting turn table mountedon said base plate and guided by said guide plate and said third plate,said turn table comprising a circular plate swivelably mounted in thefirst said cutout, a pair of pillars projecting upward from saidcircular plate and a camera supporting plate mounted on said pillars,and a screw projecting upward through the center of the last said plateto secure a camera thereon, said screw having a large head formanipulation by the fingers, and an auxiliary camera clamp comprising apair of cross bars secured to said camera supporting plate," a clampingblock abutting one edge of said camera supporting plate, and a pair ofadjusting screws passed through'said blocks and threaded each into oneof said cross bars, said block moving toward or'away from said plate asthe screws are tightened or loosened, and a pair of level indicatorsmounted on said base plate ,at right angles to one another.

10. The combination of a tripod camera stand including a support plateswivelable about its horizontal and vertical axes, with an independently horizontally swivelable camera mount comprising a base platefastened on said support and guided by said guide plate and said thirdplate, said turn table comprising a circular plate swivelably mounted inthe first said cutout, a pair of pillars projecting upward from saidcircular plate anda camera supporting plate mounted on said pillars, anda screw projecting upward through the center of the lastsaid plate tose-"- cure a camera thereon, said screw having a large head formanipulation by the fingers, and an auxiliary camera clamp comprising apair of cross bars secured to said camera supporting plate, a clampingblock abutting one edge of said camera supporting plate, and a pair ofadjusting screws passed through said blocks and threaded each into oneof said cross bars, said block "moving toward or away from said plate asthe screws are tightened or loosened, and a secondclamping block hingedto the first clamping block 'for clamping cameras of sizes smaller thanthe camerasupporting plate, and a pair of level indicators mounted onsaid base plate at-right angles to one another. 5 5 i 11. Thecombination of a tripod camera stand including a cylindrical housingswivelable about its horizontal and vertical axes, with an independentlyhorizontally swivelable camera mount comprising a base plate fastened onsaid cylindrical housing, a guide plate mounted on said base plate andhaving a circular cutout, a third plate mounted on said guide plate, andhaving a circular cutout concentric with and smaller than the firstmentioned cutout, and a camera supporting turn table mounted on saidbase plate and guided by said guide plate and said third plate, saidturn table comprising a circular plate swivelably mounted in the firstsaid cutout. a pair of pillars projecting upward from said circularplate and a camera supporting plate mounted on said pillars, and a screwprojecting upward through the center of the last said plate to secure acamera thereon, said screw having a large head for manipulation by thefingers, and an auxiliary camera clamp comprising a pair of cross barssecured to said camera supporting plate, a clamping block abutting oneedge of said camera supporting plate, and a pair of adjusting screwspassed through said blocks and threaded each into one of said crossbars, said block moving toward or away from said plate as the screws aretightened or loosened, and a second clamping block hinged to the firstclamping block for clamping cameras of sizes smaller than the camerasupporting plate.

12. The combination of a tripod camera stand including a cylindricalhousing swivelable about its horizontal and vertical axes, with an inde-,pendently horizontally swivelable camera mount comprising a base platefastened on said cylindrical housing, a guide plate mounted on said baseplate and having a circular cutout, a third plate mounted on said guideplate, and having a cir- 10 cular cutout concentric with and smallerthan the first mentioned cutout, and a camera supporting turn tablemounted on said base plate and guided by said guide plate and said thirdplate, said turn table comprising a circular plate swivelably mounted inthe first said cutout, a pair of pillars projecting upward from saidcircular plate and a camera supporting plate mounted on said pillars,and a screw projecting upward through the center of the last said plateto secure a camera thereon, said screw having a large head formanipulation by the fingers, and an auxiliary camera clamp comprising apair of cross bars secured to said camera supporting plate, a clampingblock abutting one edge of said camera supporting plate, and a pair ofadjusting screws passed through said blocks and threaded each into oneof said cross bars, said block moving toward or away from said plate asthe screws are tightened or loosened, and a second clamping block hingedto the first clamping block for clamping cameras of sizes smaller thanthe camera supporting plate, and a pair of level indicators mounted onsaid base plate at right angles to one another.

OTTO BLUM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,854,951 Neuwirth Apr. 19, 19322,429,803 Cardona Oct. 28, 1947 2,434,829 Bertzman Jan. 20, 1948

